Ben Grimm was ALWAYS the absolute avatar of the American Dream in the Marvel Universe - never mind sickly Steve Rogers, Ben's an impoverished Jewish kid (in his original incarnation, probably the son/grandson of immigrants) from the slums who grew up through the gangs, then threw them off to go to college on a football scholarship, which he swapped for Air Force wings before GOING INTO SPACE WITH HIS BEST PAL AND BECOMING A MONSTER-FACED SUPERMAN AN' THE IDOL O'MILLIONS.